Feeling Kinda Sunday

So it's Sunday afternoon, which means I'm left scratching my head at how the Packers let another game get away and Danielle is trying to stay awake while reading for class (Update: she's asleep on the couch). So that leaves me here on the ground with the laptop propped up against the coffee table, since the screen doesn't want to stay up on its own anymore. By the way, it's not the only thing that has broken around here recently (See: Taurus, Ford).

It has come to my attention that I haven't blogged here in months. In fact, my last entry centered on the fact that I had only 40 days before the end of graduate school and the beginning of my workin' days. It has now been 181 days since I started at the GAO. But thankfully Danielle has been keeping the masses (hi mom) up to date in my absence. (Update: Danielle's awake)

As I look back at that April entry, I recall how much I wanted school to be over and how much I wanted to be working. Six straight years of higher education had taken its toll, and I was ready to be done. I also recall wondering if I would miss school once it was all over. I am glad to report that six months later, there is no longing to return to the classroom. Rather, I am thankful that I have a steady job in a very unsteady economic climate and that Danielle now has the opportunity to go to school to prepare for her future.

In the coming days and weeks, I hope to return to blogging on a more regular basis. There are several things I would like to write about, and at the top of the list is my reaction to the outcome of the election. I am still mulling that topic over, but hopefully will have my thoughts together soon. Suffice it to say for now, I am glad the campaign season is over - and so is Danielle. She has bore the brunt of my musings for several (many) months now, so I'm sure she's happy for the brief respite. Guess that's what she gets for marrying a political junkie.

But for now, I'm going to get back to enjoying the rest of my favorite day of the week.

just a quick update

- Danielle has made it through 1/2 of her first semester at ODU and is still adjusting, but enjoying being back in school... learning to juggle school, work, and home... trying to decide for sure which track of counseling she wants to pursue.

- Geoff has been traveling a lot for work the past few months but that will be slowing down for the rest of the year, so we are all happy about that :) He has his 6 month review in just a few weeks already! How time flies...

- Our Taurus wagon died recently so we are now the proud owners of a '98 Ford Windstar van... and no, we don't have any big announcements to make! We found a good deal on a good vehicle and hopefully it will last us for several years... or at least until we can afford something else!

- We are anxious to see our family during the holidays and look forward to spending a week in Wisconsin with the Pecks and a week in Pennsylvania with Danielle's family, especially to celebrate Kara's 21st birthday! woohoo!

- There have been several health concerns in Danielle's family but God has been so gracious and allowed problems to be detected and dealt with fairly early, and everyone is doing okay at this point. Praise the Lord!

- We have found a church home after what seemed like months of searching and are settling in at Cornerstone Bible Church, looking forward to building relationships there.

Just Ducky

Thought I would introduce you to a few of our friendly neighbors...
when we moved in our townhouse here in VA Beach, we had a mommy and daddy Muscovy duck nesting under the tree outside our front door, and there were several eggs in the nest. I was excited to think that we would have baby ducklings waddling around our front yard ( as long as the dog did not get out) but 8 weeks passed and the eggs never hatched so alas, we were duckling-less. However, our street seems to be the place to be when you're a duck, so we have been able to see a dozen or more ducklings grow up this summer as they tend to wander pretty freely from front yard to front yard. I have always been surprised at the apparent fearlessness of these ducks as they don't run away or hide from humans (or dogs!), but I was still surprised when the other night I opened my door to see the 9 ducks in my driveway and they started heading straight for my front door! I am convinced that had I not kept my door shut but for a crack, they would have come right inside. See them standing there on our welcome mat? That white one in front is apparently the ring leader and the most curious one... ya have to admit they are still pretty cute... So anyways, we haven't met many of our human neighbors yet but our feathered friends are quite friendly!

Thoughts

There are several things I could write about today, seeing as we just returned from a family vacation in Mexico, and I am beginning classes again in just a week... but instead I just wanted to share something from my heart and will wait for those other conversations to come later...

Something I have always accepted as truth fairly easily is the goodness of God. I believe that God is fully good and fully love. I believe that God desires the best for me in my life and for everyone who calls him Father. Its sometimes hard to grasp but I believe that God is passionate about me, that He loves me with an all consuming, never-changing, unconditional love that is like no other love we can experience. I believe that God desires me, that He seeks me and is full of affection towards me. I am God's treasured bride and He delights in me.

How amazing is that? How utterly humbling and unbelievable is that? Certainly if God's love towards me was based upon my actions or my thoughts or my desiring after Him, I could not believe these things because I am not worthy. I fall so short. I am marred and broken. Yet God looks at me and sees something beautiful, something desirable, something He longs for. How is this possible? It is His nature. The very nature of God is one that desires relationship. And how blessed am I that God desires a relationship with me, despite my inadequacies, my short comings, my weaknesses, my immaturities, my brokenness. What an amazing God we serve.

I began this post with the intention of posing a challenge to myself and to you based upon the above thoughts... but I changed my mind. If you have read this, be encouraged. Be full of joy and amazement. The Lord desires you, whether you are walking in obedience at the moment or not. It is never too late to turn back, to ask for forgiveness, to admit your weaknesses and claim the pureness of Christ. So clap your hands for joy, kneel before the King in humility, sing praises of hallelujah and thankfulness to the Glorious One. He desires to be in relationship with you. Let that truth guide your next step...

Beach livin'

Dear friends it has been far too long since we have posted and for that I apologize. Life has been busy and many changes have occurred since we have last spoken. Let me give you a rapid recap of the past few months for our family.

In April, my sister came to visit on her way back from Mexico where she had been for several months with my family. She watched Jeter for us while Geoff and I flew back to Wisconsin to visit his family before the summer craziness began and Geoff would be beginning his job, making it more difficult to get away. We enjoyed a long weekend with them and were able to see his parent's new apartment!

The first weekend of May we traveled back to Pennsylvania so I could attend a bridal shower for my best friend. We packed a lot into that weekend and came home exhausted but greatly enjoyed the chance to see family and friends. Its been strange and difficult for me living so far from family and friends, so I try and make the most of every opportunity!

May 10th- the big day- my hubby received his Masters! So proud of my man and all his hard work. As much as he struggled to persevere at times, he finished strong. We are both looking forward to a few months of homework-free evenings and weekends! Yay! Then I start classes at Old Dominion in August and begin working towards my Masters in Counseling. Despite Geoff's complaints about school, I'm looking forward to it and anxious to get started.

Geoff began his job at the Government Accountability Office on May 12th as a Defense Analyst (sexy title isn't it) and has traveled several times since then for training, both to D.C. and Atlanta. My little brother made a good observation "why does he need all this training if he already has his Masters?". Smart kid.

Probably the biggest news of the summer is that we moved! June 2nd we signed the lease and June 14th we moved into a townhouse in Virginia Beach! We are getting all settled in, enjoying having more square footage to work with and I am enjoying decorating a new home. Jeter loves his fenced in backyard and we have enjoyed it too, being able to grill out and sit on our deck on those cool summer nights (which we have had maybe 2 of). We even bought a washer&dryer, our biggest purchase yet! And we have a spare room, so if any of you all want to come visit the beach, feel free to crash at our place. Once we get everything all situated, I'll post some pictures so you can see our new place.

Well, thats all for now folks. We hope you all are enjoying your summers!
Take care and stay cool.